Reproductive Autonomy

UnHerd columnist Mary Harrington introduces 'reactionary feminism,' critiquing modern feminism as serving only elite professional women. She argues technological progress commodifies women's bodies and reproductive abilities, calling for a fundamental reassessment of what 'progress' means for most women.

Former AFP Seoul correspondent Hawon Jung provides a firsthand account from the frontlines of South Korea's feminist movement, documenting how tens of thousands of Korean women sparked a MeToo wave, ended abortion bans, fought spycam crimes, and shattered Western stereotypes of 'docile' Asian women. Named one of The Economist's Best Books of 2023.

Through the personal experiences of historian Felicia Kornbluh's mother and neighbor, this book reveals the untold story of two grassroots movements in New York that transformed American reproductive rights politics - the fight to decriminalize abortion and the struggle against sterilization abuse.

Mieko Kawakami's 'Breasts and Eggs' is a monumental work of contemporary Japanese literature that challenges traditional feminine norms. The novel follows three women: Natsu, her older sister Makiko, and Makiko's daughter Midoriko. Through their intersecting lives, Kawakami explores questions of female agency, bodily autonomy, reproductive ethics, and the societal pressures placed on women's bodies in modern Japan.

The Emmy Award-winning television series source material, the gold standard of feminist speculative fiction. The story follows Offred, a fertile woman forced to survive as a member of the servant class in a dystopian near-future, where they are used as reproductive tools for the ruling class. In an era when women's reproductive rights remain politically sensitive, Atwood's groundbreaking novel remains profoundly relevant more than 30 years later.

A radical feminist masterwork proposing that technological revolution in reproductive control is key to women's liberation, offering a feminist transformation of Marxism.

Adapted from Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux's autobiographical novel, following a 23-year-old French university student's desperate and dangerous journey seeking abortion in 1960s France when it was illegal. Directed by Audrey Diwan, this award-winning film deeply explores reproductive autonomy, body politics, class inequality, and women's predicament in patriarchal society, becoming a powerful testimony to contemporary women's rights struggles.

In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, Eliza Hittman's Never Rarely Sometimes Always is necessary viewing. A tiny independent film that topped critics' best-of lists, it's about a pair of friends who are forced to travel from their small Pennsylvania town to New York City in search of medical aid for an unwanted pregnancy.

In 1987 Romania under Ceaușescu's dictatorship, college roommate Otilia helps pregnant Găbița seek an illegal abortion. This harsh and brutal realist masterpiece reveals the state's control over women's bodies and women's brave resistance for reproductive autonomy within the span of one night.

Based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a future dystopian society where women are reduced to breeding tools. It profoundly depicts women's oppression under patriarchy and the power and price of resistance.

Black Feminist Rants is an independently produced podcast hosted by LaKia Williams, focusing on the experiences of Black women and non-binary individuals in social justice spaces, with reproductive justice as the core framework for conversations. The show covers oral history, youth activism, motherhood and lactation politics, perfectionism criticism, and self-healing, blending personal narrative with political criticism to showcase the diversity and depth of Black feminism.

Femtastic Podcast is hosted by Katie Breen, focusing on reproductive justice, intersectional feminism, and public policy. The show invites researchers, advocates, and survivors to explore abortion rights, crisis pregnancy centers, gun violence, and institutional oppression, emphasizing data-driven and action-oriented approaches. With a clear, information-dense style, it's suitable for audiences interested in American reproductive politics and gender justice.

Fifty Feminist States is a podcast hosted by Amelia Hruby, taking a road trip format across America's fifty states to interview local feminist artists and advocates. The show emphasizes intersectionality and cross-regional perspectives, covering reproductive justice, Black feminism, media representation, mental health, and community organizing. It serves as an archive combining oral history with cultural critique. The show concluded in 2021, but all episodes remain accessible.